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/ Publishers' N ote "Teac h the America n boy how to become an athlete, and Jay the foundation for a Constitution greater than that of the United States."-Wlse saylags from "Tip T-0p. Ther e has never been a time when the boys of this g r .. at e-0untry took so an interest in all manly and health-givin g s ports as they do to-day. As proof of this witness the record-breaking throngs t hat attend c ollege struggles on the gridiron, as well as athletic und l 'Jeball games, end other tests of endurance a n d skill. In a multitude of other channels thi s love for the "life strenuous" is making Itself menlfen, so th<1t, a s a nation, we are rapidly forging to the front as seekers oi hones t sport. Reco g n izing this h a ndwriting on the wall," we have concluded that the time has arrived to give this vast army of young en thusias t s a publicatio n devoted exclusively to invigorating out-door life. We feel we are justified In anticipating a warm response from our sturdy American b oys, who are sure to revel In the stirring phases of sport and adventure, through which onr characters pass from week to week. ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY Issued Weekly. By Subscription $2.Jo per year. Ent ered according to Act of Congress in t h e yea r JQOJ, in tile O tftce of tile L ibrarian of C oness, Washington, D. C., bv THE WINNER LIBRARY Co. 2 Dua ne St . N ew York, N Y No. 2. NEW YORK, February 18, 1905. Price Five Cents. Jack Lightfoot's Hockey Team I OR, THE RIVAL ATHLETES OF OLD CRANFORD A Rattling Stor>"" of Winter Pastinles. By MAURICE STEVENS. CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY. Jack Lightfoot, the best all-roun d athlete in Cranfor d or vicinity, a lad clear of eye, clean of speech, and, after he bad conquered a few of his faults, possessed of a faculty for doing t "ingswhile others were talking, that hy degrees caused him to be looked upon as the natural leader in all the sports Young America delights ina boy who in learning to conquer himself put the power into his hands t o wrest victory from others. Tom Lig h tfoot, Jack's cousin, and sometimes his rival ; though their strhing for the masterr was always of the friendly, generous kind. Tom was caliod the BookWorm" by his fellows, on ac count of his lov
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2 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. tional desire to move slowly, a thing which made the boys call him "Loaf" quite as often as Lafe and skat ing hurriedly after the offender "I'd have you know that nice new, silk tile isn't an anklet!" A &arnival c:'.: fun was being held on Cranford L ake. The time was night, but strings of Chinese lanterns, toget her w ith l eap ing bonfires on shore, made everything almost as l ight as day except beyond the re ac h of this illumination, where tfie shadows seemed all the blac ker because of it. Old Snodgrass, as everyone called the queer, old c apitalist and banker, given Cranford a s urpri se, and this was the result. Jack Lightfoot had greatly pleased Snodgrass by winning the sharp ly contested ice-yacht race against Ben B irkett which all the town had c ome out to wit ness, and in addit ion had been lar gely instrumenta l in showing young Birkett up in his true light, as a scamp and a scapegrace. Snodgrass had never liked Birkett, b eca u se, as now appea red, Birkett had been insufferabl y offens ive to him when, on a certain occasion, Snodgrass had re fu sed to l oan him money. S no?grass' surpri se was an illumination of the lake on the Cranford s i de, with bonfires on shore, and a ma squerade ,of skaters on the ice. The song of the ringing made sweet music for the young people who we re so fond of winter sports. Everywhere masked skaters were gliding and whirl in g, cutting eccen tric circles, and writing their initi a l s with their skates, for their friends to guess who they were other characters appeared, skimming the glassy surface, singing, laughing and cracking jokes. Neither Lafe Lampton nor Ned Skeen would have known the other, if the y had not collided and then spoken. Ned, who was a rather slim young chap, wore a grotesq ue false face, and had padded his stomach un til he was alm os t as round as a ball. He was supposed to represent a fat clown. Lampton, on the other hand, appeared as a dude, with si lk hat, and dudish clothing, and wor e a fine sil k mask, showing a tiny waxed mustache and an eyeglass. He recovered his ruined hat after a chase, amJ came skating back with the battered and torn tile on his head. "Oh we won't go home till morning, he sang again; "we won't go home till we won't go home till morning-and then we'll come back soon!" A sai l or boy came by, wabb l ing awkwardly. "If I could on ly keep these skates on an even keel I'd be all right !" he declared. ''Hello old man, you gave yourself away that time!" cried Lampton, gliding up to him. The pretended sailor laughed. "That so, Lafe?" h e said, in the unmistakable voice of Jack Lightfoot. "Wdl, yo gave yourself away in speaking to me Steady me, won't you, or I 'll flop." Though there was not a better skater that. night on Cranford Lake Jack, in his costume of sailor boy, slipped as thogh about to shoot wildly along the ice and, throwing out his hands, caught Lafe Lampton's Not a face was uncovered, and it was only by the arm. voice that the identity of anyone could be known "Avast, there!" cried Lafe, good-humoredly. "Reef .And such costumes! They were mostly home-made and hastily evolved, though some had been hired from the nearby city. Country women, dty men, peasant girls farmers, clow ns, knights, Japanese soldiers, Yankee sailors, and your jib boom, or you'll be into me!" "This is great," said Jack, in a lo w tone, as he clung to the pretended dude. "See the lights, and the crowd; and hear the people laugh and shout." "And look at the pretty girls!" remarke d the dude,

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" ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 3 twirling his waxed mustache and swmgmg his girl s \Yho were anx10us to solve the mystery of the "I tell you, old Snod is hot stuff!" young J ap, who had shown himself to be a clever They skated on together, arm 111 arm, the sailor skater. wabbling and rolling, and both singing lustily, in voices "You'll have to ask him. I can't be expected to which they attempted to disguise: give away secrets." "Let others praise warm, sunny days And air perfumed with roses, And loud complain of wintry rain, Cold days and frozen noses; We' ll sing a song, if right or wrong, Of winter's hearty pleasures; Of skating nights and wild delights, And glittering icy treasures Jack Lightfoot had a beautiful tenor voice, and Lafe Lampton's bass was not at all bad. Ned Skeen came skating after them, howling in dens1on: Whack! "And when we frost our little ears, And chill our little toes-es, And eye-cicles hang from our eyes, And we freeze inside our clothes-es, We'll still sing on, if right or wrong, And-" Ned Skeen went down on his padded stomach, and slid along the ice. He had been struck by Tom Lightfoot, in the guise of a Japanese soldier. It was another accident, due to the fact that Tom was trying rather hurriedly to get out of the reach of some laughing girls, who were chasing him to dis cover who he was. "Beg pardon," said Tom, "I thought you were a Russian." "He was a Rushin' for a little while," remarked Jack Lightfoot, with a laugh. "Oh, I know you, anyway!" shouted a girlish voice. "And I'll know who you are, Kate Strawn, if you speak that way too often! Jack retorted. Kate, dressed as a peasant girl, with short skirts and a jaunty cap and a black half:ma sk, skated up to Jack and Lafe : "Who was that Japanese sol d ier?" she demanded. "I at first he was Tom." Tom Lightfoot had skated on, chased by some other "He was a chump!" cried Ned Skeen, rolling from his padded stomach and climbing to his feet. "If he can't skate, why don't he keep off the ice?" "You can skate all right, Mr. Skeen," said the merry girl, "and you don't even have to use your skates! But I think you must be awfully tired!" Ned Skeen always declared that he "hated" girls. "Why tired?" he asked, almost angrily. "You seem to want to lie down so much!" Then Kate Strawn fled on in the direction taken by Tom Lightfoot. "The trouble with these skates is that they're not mates," said Jack, as he went on, slipping, and sliding, and clinging to the arm of the cane-swinging dude. "They want to part company all the time." Lafe Lampton laughed. "Sometimes you make me think --" "Oh, that's good; then I haven t lived in vain! You really do think, occasionally?" "Take a reef in your tongue," said Lafe. "Jiminy Crickets, I'm hungry for an apple! I didn't bring any, for I was afraid they'd give me away." "Perhaps you were afraid you'd have to give them away!" "Oh, come now!" said Lafe. "I'm coming; if you'll give me a little help I think I can steer these thi1igs all right. They skated on again, singing together : "Oh, ye who love the glowing fire And pine for summer weather, Come out to-night while all is bright, And we will skate together. Then ne'er again will you complain Or sigh when autumn closes, :. Nor sing 'The Good Old Summertime,' Nor pine for summer roses."

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4 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. As they swung in toward the shore, where the bon fires flamed and the crowd was thickest, they beheld ... Jerry Mulligan, the young Irish cart driver, who was Jack Lightfoot's warm admirer and friend. Jerry had a clumsy pair of skates on his feet, and a .. "Oh, we're fishes, little fishes, Down underneath the sea; The mermaids wash the dishes, And ask us in to tea. They comb their hair with clam shells, And are happy as can be, When we swim in, and shake a fin, Down underneath the sea." heavy hod on his shoulders. They "swam in," singing, through the thick of the "Whurroo !"he cried. "Nobody knows me-I don't -:rowd, the sailor clinging to the arm of the dude, think!" and the dude swinging his cane. He removed his new, white T D pipe from his mouth to say this. He stared hard at Jack, then came toward him. "\Voulcl yees know who I am, in me new disguise?" The fun of it was, that Jerry was not disguised at all. "Nobody iver looked an me carryin' a hod befure, an they can t guess who I am. I'm Misther Dooley. An' I think I see befure me Little B'y Blue. An' who is the jude, bedad ?" Coming still closer, he stooped, holding his pipe in one hand and balancing his hod with the other. "Little B'y Blue, which yer name is Jack, Misther Shnodgrass towld me to say to ye, whin I met ye, th4t by an' by he wants to see ye. He'll be wanderin' round here nixt the shore all avenin'." "You know me?" said Jack, in surprise. "Misther Shnodgrass towld me you was a sailor b'y, an' I guessed the rist av it. He's out there now." Jerry skated heavily on, smoking his pipe and carry ing his hod, and he made an odd spectacle, in the midst of those masquerading figures. Jack Lightfoot' and Lafe Lampton skated to the shore, where they looked about for Mr. Snodgrass, but didn't find him. "It may have been a joke on the part of Jerry," said Jack. "Yes, that's so; let's get hack into the swim. ; CHAPTER II. A MEETING AND A CHALLENGE. While Jack Lightfoot and Lafe Lampton skated on, singing in a rollicking way and feeling that they were having the time of their lives, they by and by encoun tered Prof. Sanderson and Phil Kirtland. Jack tried to avoid them, and the professor seemed willing that he should. Sanderson was not disguised in any way. Kirtland was masquerading as an English soldier, and his red uniform had almost a bloody hue under the light of the Chinese lanterns. There was no good feeling between Prof. Sanderson and Jack Lightfoot. The professor was the proprietor and principal of the Cranford Academy, a swell private school, to which Jack had tried to gain admission. He had been turned down because his marks were too low, Sanderson said, but for private reasons, as Jack well knew. This enmity between Jack and the profe ssor reached back of this time beginning with some trouble which Jack's father had with Sanderson Jack's father was gone, and the professor had revenged himself so far as he could on the son: Phil Kirtland was one of Sanderson's pupils. He was a tall, good-looking boy, with dark hair and eyes, and had a great reputation as an all-round athlete, and master of almost every form of juvenile sports.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 5 Jack Lightfoot vvas as fond of boyish sp orts and -feeling somewhat unpleasant, though Kirtland meant athletics as Kirtland, though his opportunities for achis tone to be humorous, if his words were not quiring skill in them had not been so good, as he had "I got your challenge," said Kirtland, "and--" not the leisure Kirtland enjoyed. "Got my challenge?" But lately, since the growing rivalry and almost en mity between the schools had begun to manifest itself rather strongly, it was known that Jack Lightfoot had got together a number of the high-school boys, and was doing what he could to put them, and himself as well, in trim for meeting some of the academy athletic teams. "Hello," said Kirtland, turning toward Jack and Lafe, "I know you fellows, I guess! That's Lightfoot, isn't it?" Jack stopped, clinging with a wabbling motion to the arm of the pretended elude. "I know you, all right," said Lafe. "Your question, and the way you said it, spoke louder than your uni\ form." I "I wasn't talking to you!" "Oh, come away!" said Prof. Sanderson. "What is it you want to do?" Kirtland skated closer. "Lightfoot," he said, "I hear you dream you can I skate!" "I might, if I could keep these things steady under me." "Perhaps you dream that you can skate!" said Lafe." "Well, thank you, Lafayette, I can skate a few, if that's what you mean." He waved his hand airily. "But I'm talking to Lightfoot." Jack did not attempt to conceal his identity further. "I'm curious to know who told you how I was disguised to-night?" he said, with the utmost good humor." "Lightfoot, I'll enlighten you; my informant was Miss Kate Strawn." "I'm not boasting of my skating ability," said Jack, "Sure thing, Lightfoot." "I sent you no challenge." "Oh, yes, you did; Neel Skeen brought it. He said that the hockey team you've picked up dow at the high school could thump the packing out of the one we have up at the academy, and you wanted me to know it. I'm giving you the challenge, words and all, as it came to me. Skeen said it was intended as a challenge." Jack Lightfoot laughed. "Kirtland, Skeen simply worked that up out of a remark he heard me make." "You didn't really mean it as a challenge, then?" "Not at all. I was talking to the fellows who com pose our team After they had done some fine work, as I thought, I told them I believed we could put it over your team; and we could, if we could play that way all the time." "Oh! If you could play that way all the time? ... Skeen didn't report it in that manner at all." "Skeen was simply bragging," said Jack. "And you were?" echoed Kirtland. "I didn't mean it as bragging." "Well, it made me hot," Kirtland declared. "You thought we fellows might beat you, I sup pose?" said Lafe, speaking slowly. "Beat-wow! that's a good one; why you fellows couldn't beat a drum!" "I guess I'd better to a doctor!" said Lafe, putting his hand on his -stomach. Kirtland looked at him "Why, what's the matter?" "You make me sick!" Kirtland stared; then straightened up, and again wiggled his hand airily. "Don't aim to be a second Mark Twain, Lafayette,

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6 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. for you can't, and when you try y o u simply m;:ike your ...;:t "Say, Kirtland," he said, speaking slowly, "are y o self ridiculous." reading the 'Health Hints' in the Cranford Item?" "If Jack had sent that challenge, what then?" Lafe demanded. "What then?" Kirtland snapped his fingers. "I should have laughed at it, that's all. There wouldn't be any honor in playing against you. To win from you would be like stealing money from a blind cripple." Jack Lightfoot released the of his friend. He was becoming irritated. "Kirtland," he said, "I did intend to send a chal lenge to your team before the season ended, but not now, as we wanted to get more practice first. You've been longer organized, have had more opportunities, and, of course, ought to be able to put up a stronger game. But I will challenge you, and right now! My team, that you think you can sneer at, will play your team, whenever you are ready." Prof. Sanderson laughed. "Jack seems to be quite willing to challenge, since you have said you wouldn't play his team!" he sneered. Jack Lightfoot's heart burned with a sudden fire But he turned calmly to Kirtland. "What do you say?" "Lightfoot, your cheek only equals your limited abil ity." "You won t accept a challenge?" "Go out and get a reputation," said Kirtland, loftily; "pick out a crowd of street boys, and see if you can beat them first. Why, you fellows can't play hockey! You woul dn't know an ice puck if you should see one." "That' s right," said Jack. "Lafe found one the other clay and tried to eat it, thinking it was a cake of chocolate." "And don't send any more of your b o asting mes sa ges up to the academy! cried Kirtland. "I didn't send that message. Skeen had no at.1thority to speak for me, or the team." Lafe glared at Kirtland. The Ite m was Cranford's newspaper. "What do you mean?" asked Kirtland. "Well, there was one this week that you ou ght told how to take out a swelling in the hea d!" "Ah! Lafayette, don't work your funny bone t o o hard, or you might crack it!" "You won't accept the challenge, then?" Jack a s ked. "Get a reputation!" said Kirtland. "Does the ac ad emy hockey team have to meet any crowd of kids that comes along? Go shake yourself He moved on with Prof. Sanderson. "I'll send them a challenge by and by which the y ] can t turn down said Jack, feeling indignant ''I'll word it in such a way that they'll have t o accept i t ." "If you do, and they accept, we 'll play for blood I'd like to go up against those chaps and try to take them down a little." To their surprise they saw Kirtland returning with Sanderson. Sanderson was the cause of this return. A narrow-minded man, holding a sm o thered feelin g of hate and contempt for young Lightfoot, he t hough t Kirtland was passing by an opportunity to humiliate Jack. To the professor s mind, Jack Lightfoot had in th e past week received altogether too much praise and a t tention from the people of Cranford. It irritated and angered him, yet he had been m a p os iti o n where he could say nothing, and had ev e n been forced t o listen in s ilence to words of commenda ti o n conc erning young Lightfoot. Ben Birkett wh o had proven to be such a ras cal an d wh o had been so sig nally d e feated by Jack, h ad b een n o t only one of Prof. Sanders on's students, but h is friend an _cl i n timate Hence, Sanderson said a few words to Phil Kirtland,

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 7 nd together they turned back after th e y had but a short distance. "Lightfoot," said Kirtland, as he now came up, 'iperhaps I'm a fool for lowering the dignity of my team, but I'll accept that challenge you were bold enough to give a while ago; my team will play yours, when and where you like." "Make it Saturday afternoon," said Jack, "and right here on the lake." "Good enough!" cried Lafe, swinging his cane like a hockey stick. "Biff-goal I see me beating you, Kirtland, right now." "Lafayette, my boy, I'm not directing my valuable remarks to you," said Kirtland, airily. "Did you think I was?" "\Vhen the wind blows, I can't help hearing it; your words reached me!" "Saturday afternoon," said Jack, "and on the lake. That gives your team the advantage, but we 'li meet you then just the same." "Gives my team the advantage?" "Yes, your fellows have already had enough practice to get into good shape; but we'll meet you just the same." "I suppose," said Sanderson, unable to keep from chipping in, "you say that, Mr. just to let your team down easily, when it's defeated!" "It's a disgrace to meet them at all," said Kirtland, "but we'll do it. If you are really afraid, though, Lightfoot, we'll put it off, just to accommodate you, so that you can get into good form, you know !" Again, though he affected a humorous tone, his words and manner were not pleasant. "We might snow, or the ice may not be so good if we delay," said Jack. "We'll have it early." "And, Kirtland," said Lafe, swinging his cane again, "there isn't any doubt but that we'll be easy boys to do up. Bi ff-bang-goal! \Vhen the muster roll is call ing, we'll be there-and don't you forget it." CHAPTER III. JACK'S WEAKNESS. Having given the challenge, and the challenge having been accepted, Jack Lightfoot began to consider the thing more seriously, as he and Lampton skated on. I He had not intended to offer his challenge for some time; but had meant to wait, and drill his team mean while, so that if the academy boys agreed to a match the high-school students could enter it with more hope of victory. He knew that his material, though the best to be had in the high school at that time, was very uneven in quality. He had a few good players, but others who were very poor. As he thought of some of the awkward practice work, some of the lazy dribbling of the puck, and some of the errors that even his best men had made, he feared that perhaps he had been hasty in what he had done that night. He began to feel that he ought to have asked for and demanded more time. He had acted under a sense of irritation that was almost anger. Always, when he did that, there was a reaction m his feelings and a slumping of his contidence. A lack of confidence in his own ability was one of the things that Jack Lightfoot had discovered as a weakness in his character, and against which he had determined to fight most desperately. But this did not seem to him now so much a lack of confidence as a weighing of the chances and dis. covering that they were not good. He spoke of his thoughts to Lafe Lampton. "Take a brace!" said Lafe. "If we can't do those fellows we'll give 'em the game of their lives." "But our team work is ragged." "So is theirs. I've watched their play." ) "You think we can def eat them?"

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8 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. "I don't know; they're g0d players, and they've had the most practice. But we can try. I never lie down in a thing of this kind until I'm knocked down. Take a brace." "I will !" said Jack. He knew it was what he needed. "' Jack had forgotten that Mr. Snodgrass desired to see him, and now recalled it with a sudden feeling of con-1 fusion. "Gee! I'd forgot all about that, too!" said Lafe. "Perhaps he hasn't gone home. We'll see!" J They skated more rapidly, and soon approached the "You were troubled this way before the ice-yacht shore. race," said Lafe, "yet you sailed to wm, and you won!" "It was a narrow squeak. We didn't have much to spare." "It wasn't a mile, but it was enough; you won, that's the thing." "Yes, we won !" "You won; I only helped !" For a long time they skated around, far out on the lake, beyond the crowd and beyond the lights, talking over this matter. As they did so they saw Snodgrass walking toward them across the ice. He was not far from the point where red lights and: boards marked the break in the ice made at the con clusion of the ice-yacht race. He up to the two boys, when he observed the sailor suit of blue. "Ah! Jack, that you?" he called. "Yes, sir," Jack answered, touching his sailor cap. Snodgrass laughed. He was a grizzled man, of. stern aspect, and had anything but a reputation as a "A fellow would think I'm the captain, instead of humorist. you," said Lafe, rather impatiently. "I don't know whether we can win or not, but we can try." Jack Lightfoot was silenced. Lafe Lampton was right, and he knew it. The en couragement, the spirit of fight which makes for vic tory, should come from the captain to the men, and not. from the men to the captain. "We'll win it; we've got to win it!" "That's the stuff," said Lafe; "now you're talking. If we believe we've got rriore than a fighting chance, and I'm dead sure we have, and then play to win, we'll crowd those fellows mighty hard. And if we're de .ieated, we won't be whitewashed. They're not m vincible just because they're from the academy." "That's right. We'll play them for all that's in us; and I really ltiink if we do we can beat them." They skated toward the shore. The hour was growing late. Though the bonfires still flamed and the lanterns I.. glmYed, most of the people had gone to their homes. "You're no true sailor, Jack; you should say, 'ay, ay, sir'!" ) "Ay, ay, sir!" cried Jack, again touching his cap. "I'm in a big hurry, Jack. I intended to see you about another matter altogether; but it's too late for that now. carriage has come for me, and I must catch that train, due at the station right now. So I haven't time to go up to my house." He put his hand in the inner pocket of his mercoat; and drew out a package. Skates ground behind Jack, and, half turning, he saw Kirtland's red uniform "Hello, Kirtland ; a nother challenge?" said Lafe. Snod g rass was speaking to Jack. "There' s a thousand d o llars in bills in this package, Jack; and you're to take them straight to my wife, i and give them to her." Some one called to Lafe Lampton at this moment,' and he glided away. "Yes," said Jack, "I suppose I can do that."

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 9 He was speaking to Snodgrass; and they were alone ... ow, for the boy in the red English uniform had also one. '"You're to give it to my wife-no one else, you nderstand !" "Yes, sir," said Jack, though he wished the com ission had beert intrusted to another. Snodgrass started across the ice, and reaching his arriage, was driven rapidly to the railway station, sev ral streets distant. Jack looked round for Lafe, and not seeing him, he kated on toward the shore. As he did so, he was met by a young boy whom he knew to be Snodgrass' messenger and house servant. The boy came up to Jack. "I saw Mr. Snodgrass, as he drove up the street to the station," he said, "and he told me to tell you to ive that package to me, and for me to take it to Mrs. Snodgrass." Jack's hand went toward his pocket, where he had laced the package. Then he remembered that Mr. Snodgrass had par icularly instructed him to deliver the package to Mrs. nodgrass in person, and to no one else. His hand came away from the pocket. "Mr. Snodgrass told me to take it to his house my elf, and give it to Mrs. Snodgrass." "And he told me to come down here and get it," the oy insisted. Jack was tempted to give it to him; but again he ecalled Snodgrass' positive instructions. "No, I can't do it," he said; "I'll take it myself." "Aren't you going to let me have it?" the boy in "I told you I wasn't; I shall do just what Mr. Snod rass told me to." "\Vell, then, he can't blame me," said the boy, mov ing away. "I've asked you for it." Not many people were on the ice now, and these were further up along the shore. Jack halted near the fence that inclosed the new ice, from which most of the skaters preferred to keep as far as possible, and there began to take off his skates. CHAPTER IV. A TREACHEROUS ASSAULT. He had removed his skates and vvas about to rise when he heard skates whizz and grind behind him. The next instant he was knocked down by a stun ning blow on the head. The blow was so heavy that it reduced him to temporary helplessness and half-consciousness. He seemed paralyzed by it; and could do nothing but lie where he had fallen, without sound or motion. As he lay thus he had a dim half knowledge that some one was fumbling in his pockets. He did not resent it; it seemed like a dream, and he had no will of his own. He heard a voice mumbling and exclaiming, but it sounded far off and indistinct. He tried to arouse himself, with a growing feeling that something terrible had happened, or was hap ening. With great difficulty he rolled over and struggled to his knees. No one was by his side. His head felt as if it would split, and he tremblea with weakness and dizziness. Then he saw the red uniform close by the ice, on the shore, and the boy who wore it going toward the town in a hurried way. Instantly all that had occurred came back to Jack Lightfoot like a flash. He thrust his hand into the pocket where he had put the precious package consigned to his care by Snodgrass. It was gone.

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IO ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. He felt quickly in his other pockets. Yes, the package was gone. He stumbled almost blindly to his feet, and tried to run after the boy who was vanishing along the street. "Kirtland!" he shouted. :Hi, there-Kirtland!" The boy leaped as if a bullet had whistled past his ears, when he heard that, and broke into a quick run. "Stop, Kirtland!" Jack bellowed, in a tremor of pas sion and bewilderment. Seeing that Kirtland did ndt intend to stop, but was rapidly getting himself out of sight, Jack pulled his energies together and started in pursuit. He yelled, and ran blindly; then tumbled forward on his face at the edge of the ice, falling in a heap. A moment later as it seemed, he felt arms about him. In his dizzy brain he had a feeling that Phil Kirtland l:iad come back and was attacking him. He struggled, striking out furiously. Then he recognized the voice of Lafe Lampton. "Jiminy Crickets, what's the matter with you?" Lafe panted in protestation, as Jack's fist struck him in the face. "Here I came to help you, and you try to give me a thumping." The realization that this was his friend, Lampton, tended to sober Jack Lightfoot and steady his brain. Again he recalled the theft of the package and the sight of that vanishing figure. He knew he had been robbed He stopped his struggles. "Lafe-Lafe!" "Yours to command,'' said Lafe, "but don't hit me again! I've been using complexion beautifiers on my face lately, and I don't want the effect spoiled." "Lafe, I've been robbed!" Jack contrived to stammer. He caught Lampton's arm and lifted himself. ''Jiminy Crickets, you've been--" P( "Robbed! And by Phil Kirtland!" "What?" "It's the truth, if I ever spoke it. :e He came on !11io here, cracked me over the head with something, am when I fell almost senseless, he went through m0 pockets, and took a package containing a thousand do! Jars, which Snodgrass gave me to take up to his house.0 It was not often that Lafe Lampton became ex cited, but he was certainly in that condition now. e "Jiminy Cr-. -a thousand dollars! Say, you'r'.1 I sure it was Kirtland? Which way did he go?" .e "I'm sure of it; I saw him as he ran away, and h went toward the town." n "Then we'll get that money back, or break his hea' -or have him arrested in short order." He whistled and stared; then began to help Light,, foot to his feet. l Jack stood up, clinging to Lafe and swaying weakl)ii His head thumped like a drunrand everything seeme1 to be reeling round. "Say," said Lafe, feeling that light was coming tq him, "that n:iust have been one of Kirtland's foe jokes; he thinks he's funny, you know! He did ie to give you a scare. He wouldn't take the money ti keep it; and he'll hand it back, all right." a "It wasn't any joke the way he cracked me over th head. He almost crushed my skull in. Perhaps we can overtake him." He was panting heavily. swayed as if about to fall. He tried to run, am 1. "No use to run after him,'' said Lafe. "You can'J. stand, hardly, and he' cl outrun me quick enough; Kirt1 land is a sprinter, you know." With Lafe's help Jack Lightfoot stepped upon thi land, trembling and shaking. "Kirt1a11d will return that money, all right," sai' Lafe, consolingly. "He must know that you saw him.'u "I Jon't think he knew it, for he knocked me sense le ss, and I lay there like a log; but I had enough mirn

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. II left to know that he felt in my pockets. when I could!. get my eyes open h e \Vas striking out for town at a bot pace and the package and money were gone!" The whole thing seemed impossible to Lafe Lamp on ; yet he could not doubt Jack Lightfoot. "Say, you're queer to-night-you' re nutty! What made you say that?" "Don't you see the position I m placed in?" "Why, you're all right, if Kirtland gives back the money. He ought to be thumped for it and for hitI "Just one of Kirtland's jokes," said Lafe. "It's a ting you that way, though perhaps he didn't mean to 'ool joke, but Kirtland's built that way." Lafe Lampton did not like Phil Kirtland very well, et he was not willing to think the othe r would take oney without any intention of returning it. He had ever heard Kirtland spoken of as 'a thief. "Kirtland wouldn't take that money to keep it! he nsisted. [ d "Perhaps you'll say he wou ldn't knock me clown?" "I would have said it yes; bl.lt, of course you know hat you're talking about, and that settles it. If Kirtncl took the money he 'll return it, I feel pretty cer-. m. e Jack Lightfoot went sudden l y hot and cold. All at once he saw the situation in w hich he was t laced. Even his friend, Lafe Lampton was not w illin g to elieve that Phil Kirtland would do such a thing. t Even Jack acknowledged that he himself would not ave belie ved it, before the thing happened. r He reeled g iddily, clutching at Lafe's arm, as that "'ealization came to him. "They'll believe that I'm the thief!" was hi s thought. They 'll say that the money wasn't taken from me at nobody knocked me down, but that the whole ing was made up by me, so that I could keep the oney myself !" "Lafe," he said, his voice shaking quite as much as h is body, "you believe that I'm honest, don't you?" "Sure thing!" said Lafe. 'I know you are." It \\'as odd, to hear these expressions from that udish figure. "I thank you for that!" r Lafe whistled in surprise. really hurt you." "Lafe, Phil Kirtland never intends to give back that money! He will say that he knows nothing about it; that he never touched me or saw me after the package came into my hands. What then? The people will say that I've lied about the whole thing." Lafe stared. He had taken off his mask and put it in his pocket as Jack had already done his. Now he took off his skates. "Jiminy Cricke ts yo u don't think--" "That's just what I think-and that's what I know. Even you aren't willing to believe that Kirtland to ok it." "I'm willing to believe what yo u say, but Kirtland never was known as a thief." "That's just it; and I can see already that nobody will believe my story." He tried to walk on. The arms of the dude went round the shoulders of the mock sai l or b oy "Here I'll help y.ou," said Lafe; "and Jack, just recollect that I'm your friend and can be depended on to stand by you, in this or anything else. You're all ri ght, and I know it. There's no use in hurrying your self o ut of breath. If, as you say, Kirtland t oo k that money, we know w here t o find him any time." "There it is cried Jack, exasperation mingled with his other feelings. "If Kirtland to o k it as I say! Why, I know he took it. There can't be any doubt about it I had it right here in this pocket. He kn oc ked me oii the head; I felt him put his hand in my pockets;

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I2 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. I saw him on the shore hurrying away, and the money -they moved together slowly up the street, while Ja( was gone." "You didn't see him before he struck you?" "No." "Then maybe somebody else did it." "There was no one else near me." "There might have been." "There wasn't-I say there wasn't; not another soul anywhere near me." "vVell, we won't quarrel about that." He assisted Jack Lightfoot along a few steps, and Jack began to feel his returning, though his head still whirled dizzily. "Make a search through your pockets," Lafe sug gested. "You might have put it in another one, you know." "I have searched." "Search again; here, I'll help you." The pockets were gone through again. "It isn't there," said Lafe, regretfully. "I was hoping it might be. Wait a minute and I'll look round on the ice where the thing happened." Jack sank weakly to the ground, feeling that he could not stand alone. Lafe Lampton went back upon the ice, where he made a thorough search, poking about with his dude cane, but discovered nothing. CHAPTER V. PHIL KIRTLAND'S DENIAL. "Jack," said Lafe, when he came back, "there's a big mystery -here, and I won't deny it. I want you to tell me the whole thing; how old Snod happened to give you that money, and all. I don't say this, thinking that maybe you ain't all right. You are, and I know it, and I'm going to stand by you in this thing till the cows come home." Jack rose to his feet, with Lafe's assistance ; and informed his friend of all the circumstances. "Do you think you could walk as far as Kirtland's.1 "Yes," Jack answered. "I'm feeling better-t stronger, I mean." "We'll go there straight off then, and we'll see wh it means. I still think Kirtland intended that for clumsy joke." > They went to Kirtland's home, a large house, in ti suburbs, some distance away. The Kirtlands were well-known and wealthy peopl or, at least, people in good circumstances. There was still a light in the parlor, and in some t the other rooms. As he looked up at big house, standing with h friend, Lampton, in the street by the gate, Jack Ligh foot's heart sank. "Kirtland's got money, or his folks have; wi should he want to do a thing like that, unless it was fc a joke?" It was Lafe Lampton who spoke, but he vo1c Jack's own thought. "I can't tell you," said Jack, feeling that he want to run off somewhere and hide himself where peo would never see him. It was the old feeling, which he had determined fight to the last ditch. So he squared his shoulders. "Well, we'll see," said Lafe; "we'll find out what meant by it." '\But if-if he denies it?" said Jack. "That's for you to say," Lafe answered. They passed through the gate. Though he was st weak, Jack walked now without assistance; yet his ey blurred at times, and he had a continual sense of fai ness. Only his strong will kept him up. Lafe Lampton rang the bell. A servant answered it, and stared, when he beh the queer costumes.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 13 c "Beg your pardon ," said Lafe, seeing that Jack hesi.; tated. "But is Mr. Phil Kirtland in? If he is, we d like to see him for a few minutes on very important business." The servant vanished, leaving them standing in the hall. But he came back, shortly. "Mr. Phil Kirtland is in," he said; "and he'll see you in his room." He led the way, up the stairs and along a corridor. A door was open on this c o rridor, and light came 1 from it. Jack trembled, but he resolved to be brave and to cput a bold face on the matter. "Confidence! he whispered to himself. "Kirtland 1 is in the wrong, and is the guilty party, not you! Con fidence." "Come in," Kirtland called, when he saw who they hwere. When they entered they found that he had taken off his red coat and hung it up, and had replaced it with a smoking jacket. "Hello!" he said, not very good-humoredly. "Come up to talk about that challenge business? I thought ) that was all settled." Ki1 tland waved his hand again, with cool assuranc e "My dear Lightfoot, how could I, inasmuch as I'm not gifted with second-sight, or anything of that kind? I naturally supposed you wanted to talk about that hockeJ match." Jack caught his breath, in anger and amazement. "You knocked me down on the ice a little while ago, and while I was not more than half conscious unable to help myself you went through my pockets and took out a package containing a thousand dollars which Mr. Snodgrass had given me but a moment or two before to take to his wife!" Phil Kirtland's face flamed to a furious red. He jumped to his feet, and lunged at Jack as if about to strike him. "Here, here!" said Lampton, interposing. "None o' that! We didn't come up here to fight, but to find out about that." "What about it?" Kirtland seemed about to fly into a wild passion again "Why, I denounce it as a false hood and an unmitigated slander." He looked Jack in the face. Jack's face was white, and he trembled. Kirtland's face was as red as the English coat he had worn, and he trembled, too, but "It is settled," said Lafe," for a different reason. J t "It's settled," Jack declared, "and we've come on a "Did you make that lie up because you to o k a spite very different errand." at me this evening out there on the ice?" he demanded. Though he was faint, he was pulling his courage "This is spite work!" together by a strong effort of his will. "Nothing of the kind." Jack was resolved to hold "Take seats," invited Kirtland, waving his hand himself in-to control his temper, if he could. "Noth airily. "This is my private boudoir, you know; hut r ing of the kind. I've no spite against you, and--" was half undressed, and I thought I'd rather see you "Yet you tell a lie like that about me!" :up here than to come down. Now, what is it I can r do for you?" 1 Jack's temper flamed suddenly. This c ool, smil'ing y o ung fellow was pretending ig norance o f everything. l "You ought to know wh3 t we came up here for!" he 'lrged. "You didn't take the money?" said Lafe. Kirtland turned on him. "Lampton, do you want me to punch your head off? Say that again and I will." "All right, Kirtie, sail in; I'll stand up meek again s t the wall and let you. I said we didn't come up here to quarrel ; but you bet I don't let anybody hit me with-

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 011t trying to hit the aforesaid individual as hard as [ know how. I asked you a question. Now I ask it again, just to get straight. You didn't take that money?" "" ''No; but no one else was there, or near there." For a moment Kirtland seemed about to jump on r him; but Jack was enraged and felt now like fighting, and he would have given the other all he wanted, and "No f." howled Ki'rtland. "No--no--no Ca1'1 you 1 'f h h d d th d h per rnps more, 1 t ey a m1xe en an t ere. understand that? I know nothing about it. I never saw the money. I never heard of the thing, until now. Does that satisfy you?" "It does," said Lafe, "so fa.r as it goes." "So far as it goes?" "I--" Kirtland seemed about to leap at him, but Lafe put up his dude cane. "Now, see here; we're here to straighten out a tan gle, not to fight or fuss. You can answer questions, and I'll say what I think. I thought, perhaps, you took it as a sort of joke, thinking to give it back to Jack again." "I never saw it; I know nothing about it!" Fortunately the door of Kirtland's room had been closed, or the sounds of this heated dialogue would have reached the people in the parlor. "Kirtland," said Jack, trembling, "I could believe that if I didn't know better." He was astonished and angry. "I'm a liar, am I?" "Yes, I've got to say that you are, or prove myself a liar. You knocked me down on the ice there by the board fence, just when I'd taken my skates off and was ready to come uptown; and you took from my pockets -this pocket," he patted the pocket of the sailor jacket with his hand, "the package which Mr. Snodgrass gave me." "Did you see me?" "I did; I saw you as plainly as I see you now, as you skipped along the street, a or two after." "But you didn't see me take it?" "I felt you take it." "You didn't see me take it?" Kirtland persisted. "I'm not going to take it back, Kirtland. You took that thousand dollars. I've come for an explanation. You deny the whole thing. Now, I demand the money!" Kirtland sat down. He seemed to change his mind about attacking J Lightfoot, or something; at least, he sat down, and looked hard at the boys who stood accusingly before him. It was a strange picture-Kirtland in his smoking jacket and the other two in the masquerade costumes they had worn on the ice. "Lightfoot, if I declare to you that I know nothing a about that, will you believe it?" Kirtland asked. "No, I won't," said Jack, savagely. I felt you go through my pockets." Kirtland hesitated. Even Lafe Lampton noted the change in his manner sudden change; and it almost convinced Lafe that Kirtland was guilty. Up to that time Lafe had felt that he could not be. He did not doubt Jack in the least; but he thought that some one else must have come up behind Jack and committed the deed-some one whom Jack had not been able to see, and that this person had made his escape while Jack was lying on the ice only half con scious. Now he began to think that Kirtland's change of manner showed guilt. "Well, I know nothing about it!" said Kirtland, his voice rising in an irritated way. "You don't intend to surrender the money?" Jar asked, hotly.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 15 "I can't surrender something I haven't got and know "Steady, Lightfoot!" "' nothing about." Kirtland seemed trying to be cool now. "What if I have you arrested?" "You couldn't keep still about it?" he asked, anxKirtland started from his chair. iously. "Lightfoot," his face paled, "if you do that, and dis grace me before the people of Cranford, so help me, I'll get even with you. I didn t take that money "But I saw you running away; and if you didn't take it, who did? No one else was there. I saw you running away! Kirtland hesitated agam, with that strange change in his manner apparent. He seemed about to deny that Jack had seen him there on the shore near the ice after the robbery. "You recognized me by my clothing?'" "I did-I recognized you! I saw you there!" Jack persisted. "You can't deny it!" "No, and I don't intend o." "Then go ahead!" "I shall tell Mrs. Snodgrass, and Mr. Snodgrass as soon as he gets back." "Go afrad !" cried Kirtland, doggedly. "I'm through! I've denied everything, and you say I'm a liar-and that means that I'm a thief. If it comes to a show-down between us, who will be believed by the people of Cranford; Phil Kirtland, whose father has always been an honorable man, or Jack Lightfoot, whose father--" Jack leaped at him, with a cry of rage, and caught him by the collar, jamming him back against the wall "Oh, go along, Lightfoot! You wouldn't believe and half overturning the chair. anything I'd say, nor Lafe wouldn't." "You won't deny it-you can t deny it!" Jack ex, claimed. "I shan't deny anything, I tell you," Kirtland shouted, becoming savage again, "except that I didn't take that money, knew nothing about it, and wouldn't have taken it if it had been stuck under my nose." "Well.' what do you expect me to do about it?" Jack asked, his lips trembling. "I'm put in a hole by your action." Kirtland thought a moment. "Yes I reckon you are. The people will think you kept it, and made up a story to cover your guilt? Is that what you mean?" "Don't you think they will-can't you see they will?" Kirtland now made a most surpri sing request. "Jack, do you suppose you could keep this thing "And suffer for what yon did? "Wasn t it bad enough to be treated that way-to be knocked down and half killed, and-" His fingers closed on Kirtland's throat, and he seemed about to smash his fist into Kirtland's face. "Here, here I" cried Lafe, springing forward and catching Jack's arm. "Kirtland," said Jack, his v o ice shaking with pa s sion "you can say things about me, but if you say anything against my father I'll make you repent it!" Kirtland was wheezing, as Jack removed his hand. That startling attack, so unexpected, had shaken Kirtland' s courage. Jack Lightfoot angered, had whipped Ben Birkett, fairly and squarely. Kirtland knew that; but he knew, t oo, that Jack was not a fighter, or, at least, had never possessed the reputation of one. "I was enraged when I said that," he admitted, pushing Jack away. "I take it back, Lightfoot." Jack stood before him, panting and gasping, his wrath almost uncontrollable. "Kirtland," he gasp e d, "if-if y o u ever speak disre spectfully of my fa-father again, '.I-That's all right, Lightfoot! I think well of a boy

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16 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. who thinks well of his father; and I take back what I said. I'll not fight you about that. Some time, if we happen to mix on other things, I'll try to give you all you want; but I won't fight you about that." "But you took the moneYl" said Jack, still panting. "And other people will say the thing you started to say!" Kirtland threw out his hand impatiently. "Saw it off, Lightfoot! I didn't take the money, and I don't know anything about it." "You stick to that lie?" "All right then, come along. what are you g-oing trle say to her about Kirtland?" 'Y Jack Lightfoot had been thinking of that. ht "I think I'll not mention his name. I'll just say fo1 was knocked down and the money taken from me by fa boy who was masked." Ja' "She'll ask you to describe him; and if you say hi c wore that red coat, then she'll find out who he was." i'\1 Nevertheless, Jack told his story, with tren:rn bling, to Mrs. Snodgrass. She was fairly stunned. T "I stick to it, and it isn't a lie!" Kirtland cried, "Dear me," she said, throwing up her hands, "this ir fiercely. dreadful! But I never trouble myself about busines' CHAPTER VI. AN UNHAPPY DAY. As Jack Lightfoot and Lafe Lampton :vent away from Kirtland's room and from the big house where Phil Kirtland lived, they talked over the peculiar situa tion. Jack Lightfoot was nervous, weak and bewildered. He had not recovered from the effects of the ter rible blow which had knocked him senseless on the ice. In addition, Phil Kirtland's strenuous denials, connected with his queer manner, irritated and puzzled him. He foresaw that the theft of the money was likely to be charged to him and his story discredited, if not positively disbelieved. "It's getting late, Lafe," he said, as they walked down the street toward the heart of Cranford, "but before I go home I must tell Mrs. Snodgrass about this. I can't sleep if I don't, and I doubt if I shall be able to sleep, after I've told her." "All right, if you think it's best; but I believe I'd wait. Kirtland may make a confession." "He'll deny everything; he's already denied every thing." "Yes, but I could see he was uneasy." "I must see Mrs. Snodgrass before I go home. \.t matters, and you'll have to see my husband." .p Jack was glad to escape without a severe questioni ing. O Lafe accompanied him home and up to the door. "I think I'd better go all the way home with you,r he said, as if the thing needed to be excused; 1"you'r. pretty shaky, from that crack you got on the head." Jack thanked him and stood by the window watch' ing him as he passed up the street, swinging his dudisl:>' I cane, but walking in anything but a dudish manne now. Jack's mother had retired, and Jack crept up to his room, feeling weak and miserable. "Just when everything seemed to be coming 'my wa to have this happen!" he groaned. r His face flushed again as he recalled the slur throw1 out by Kirtland concerning his father. "I'd fight him, if he was as big as a house, if ht insulted the memory of my father without cause," wru his angry thought. So Jack went to bed, but lay awake. a long time. Tht hours were wearing along toward morning before h1 c fell into even a troubled doze. Having into an uneas y slumber at last, h overslept, and was aroused by his rpother, as she ben \o kiss his flushed and feverish face.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. tq He started up, with an exclarnatio.n. the way? I haven't smallpox, nor conta2"ion of any "You skated too hard, and were out too late last kind." ht, Jack," she said, anxiously. "I think I'll have A black look came to Sanderson's face. forbid you going out at night, unless you can get in "You have the contagion of a bad example, and the bad example of your father!" and without a word he made his toilet Something like a pain gripped at Jack's heart, and d came downstairs. for a moment he felt like flying at Sanderson as he At the breakfast table, after much hesitation, and had at Phil Kirtland. his mother's part, Jack told his "Did my father ever really harm you?" he asked. "He did. And since that occurrence of last night I The revelation frightened his mother and whitened think, as principal of the academy, I shall have to stop s '.'I would have told you at once," he said, by way of "but I hated to load my troubles on you." -iis mother came round the table and put her arms bout him. "Jack,'' she said, tenderly, "that's what mothers are ,'br-to help their sons, don't you know? Anyway, that's what one mother is for." Yet she was troubled, and there were tears m her yes as she went back to her seat, and tears m her Itoice as well. "Just be honest, Jack, and speak the truth," she "Lafe knows that you are honest; and so oes Tom, and others; and if the rest of the town hould think differently, even they will know the truth ome time." As he passed on his way to school, he chanced to eet Prof. Sanderson, who was on his way to the cademy. Sanderson stepped out of the path, as if contact :vith Jack Lightfoot might bring contamination. Jack's blood boiled when he saw that. ,, Having gone out of his way to avoid Jack, Sander on changed his mind and stopped. "Lightfoot," he said, "I think I shall have that ac of the challenge for the hockey game recalled "Why?" asked Jack. "And why did you step out of that hockey match. I don't want my boys to play with you, or with boys who associate with you." Jack saw that Sanderson had been told about the stolen money. "Perhaps I don't understand you," he said, to make sure, "and you'll be willing to explain?" "I speak of that theft last night-I suppose I must call it that. You had a thousand dollars delivered to you, it seems. You claim that you hav en't it now, and that somebody knocked you down and took it away from you." "Prof. Sanderson, I told only the truth." "Lightfoot, I don't care to be seen talking to you; but I'd advise you, as a friend. to out where that money is and restore it. You mustn't think that you can keep it, and escape punishm;nt." Jack wanted to take refuge in flight, yet he stood his ground. "Did Kirtland tell you that?" J:le asked. "He did ; and of the outrageous charge you brought against him. But it isn't the first time that a rascal has shouted: 'Stop, tbief !' Prof. Sanderson hastened away, \\ith this parting shot, and Jack Lightfoot dragged himself on to school, feeling more unhappy than words can tell. From the position of the most care-free boy in Cranford he had suddenly been made the most miser able.

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18 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. CHAPTER VII. The boys, themselves, were building parallel baa o: ... AT THE GYMNASIUM. and were considering the construction of a trapeze . k. One of the results of Jack Lightfoot's heroism on Jack Lightfoot had thrown himself into these pl1y; the ice the week before had been manifested in a man-with vigor and vim. f. ner that has not yet been set forth. He was a capable boy with tools, as he had sho\d At the close of the ice-yacht race the ice had broken when he built his ice yacht. ty. under the weight of the crowd tha.c streamed out on in it and Kate Strawn, who had been skating toward the shore, plunged into hole almost before she knew it was there, and was saved only by the heroic work of Jack Lightfoot, who leaped into the icy water to her rescue. Aided by his friend, Lafe' Lampton, he had saved the life of the girl. Jack was not a boy who would take money for such an act of bravery. Knowing this, Kate's father, Norwell Strawn, who was the proprietor of Strawn's dry-goods store, and one of the prominent men of Cranford, offered, for the use of Jack and his friends, the large upper floor of the old carriage shop, telling them they might fit it up as a gymnasium and practice room for their games and sports. Not only this, but Strawn generously offered his financial aid in the purchase of such equipment and apparatus as the boys needed. It was Jack Lightfoot's way, to help himself always before accepting the aid of anyone else. He felt glad to have for himself and friends the use of the upper floor of the carriage shop, and was also willing, if Strawn chose to do it, to have that gentleman purchase and give to the high-school boys such things as they could not make for themselves. This upper floor had been fitted up in a simple way, And what Jack did not know in regard to constm"F. ing almost any sort of athletic device, Tom Lightfo" his cousin, whom the boys called "The Bookworn:sit because he was always nosing in a volume, would 1e pretty certain to find in some book, magazine or pap1 -Or Jack Lightfoot took his way to the new gymnasiu that night very ill at ease. er .. The mystery of the abstracted package of money h1is not been cleared up. Snodgrass was still absent, b F might return soon, and Jack wondered what he wol.\li do then. With any good pretext, Jack would have remairn at home. But the night before some matters 1c for discussion had remained unsettled; and he kne\ besides, that the boys would be anxious to hear wh: he had to say about the hockey match. As he reached the lower door of the carriage she he encountered his cousin, Tom. Tom was a student at the academy, and it surprised Jack to find him there. He thought at on\r of the lost money, and wondered what Tom had hear> about it. But Tom did not speak of that. "I've brought down a paper for you to read your club to-night," he said. "Come on in and take a look at the gym/' Jack ius vited . "Well, I should like to, if it will be all right wit with horizontal bars, rings and the like; and as his your fellows." g first contribution Strawn had given some dumb-bells, Indian clubs, and a big wrestling and jumping pad. He had promised other things in the near future. In the upper room a great noise of voices could t heard, as they ascended the stainvay together. 11 "What is this paper?" Jack asked.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. IC) Tom stopped on the stairway, and turned toward "You'll have to read it; I don't understand it, my. But it's a declination of your challenge. Kirt-1d says he won't play your team, and that you know y. 'He didn't say why himself?" 'No. None of the boys know; but Kirtland declared itively he wouldn't play, nor have his team play. e fellows say that it's because you've got such a r team that it would be a disgrace to play against I don't believe that's the reason myself; I think something back of it, but I can't guess what For a moment Jack Lightfoot was on the point of ing his cousin what it was, but he hesitated, and y went on upstairs together. he Babel of voices rose to a clamor when Jack was n in the doorway, and his friends came streaming to him, all talking at once. They wanted to know about the coming hockey tch. Lafe Lampton was there, and he came lazily toward m Lightfoot. As usual, Lafe was eating an apple. "Tom," he cried, laughing, "you're in the wrong lor car! It's an awful pity, too, for you're a dacint as Jerry Mulligan told me himself." "If I may stay a while I'll be good," Tom promised. "Oh, you couldn't be; nobody from the academy be. We're awfully down on your crowd; and turday afternoon we're going to do you up. We've st been figuring how we'll do it; this way, see! ff-bang-goal." He struck with an imaginary hockey stick at an im inary puck. "That's easy," said Tom; "but what \\ill we be doing that ti:ne, while you're hammering goals? \Ve'll be nding there permitting you to do it-I don't think." Tor:n Lightfoot belonged to Phil Kirtland's hockey team, and was one of its best players. ''"We'll have you glued fast to the ice!" Lafe de clared. Jack Lightfoot, with the boys about him, saw quickly that thouo-h Phil Kirtland had spoken of the missing b money to Prof. Sanderson he had said nothing about it promiscuously. These boys, with the exception of Lafe Lampton, knew nothing of it at all. Thereupon, though he felt nervous enough, he brightened outwardly. "What about the hockey match?" said Ned Skeen. Skeen had been doing some stunts on the horizontal, but had dropped to the pad and came forward when he saw Jack appear. "Yes that's what we want to know?" others cried. "I think we ought to get out on the ice and prac tice to-night, if we're going up against those fellows Saturday," still declared. "Wait a minute, and perhaps I can tell you something about it," said Jack. He tore open the envelope given to him by Tom, and read: "To the proper officers of the high-school hockey team: "I decline to meet you Saturday afternoon with the academy team, for reasons that I am not at liberty to make known now. PHILIP KIRTLAND." The boys stared blankly. "Ah! tell him to go chase himself. What's the rea son they won't meet us?" Lafe Lampton, standing by the wall, thumped Tom Lightfoot on the chest with the back of his hand. "Tommy, that saves your bacon!" Lafe was as cheerful, apparently, as if he carried in his bosom no \\"eighty secret. Some of the boys swarmed round Tom Lightfoot. "\\' hat's the reason you fellows won't meet us?" they-' asked.

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20 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. Tom laughed. Lafe took another bite of apple. "We don't want to def eat you and make you feel bad," said Tom. "Ah! try again, that isn't the reason?" "If you know, you tell me." "But what is the reason?" they clamored. Lafe Lampton chewed meditatively upon his bite of apple. :e-e knew the reason well enough, and was won dering what he ought to say. Finally he decided tc;> say nothing, and took another bite of apple, to cure his temporary nervousness. "I heard what one boy said," a voice declared, in the midst of the clamor. "What did he say?" Ned Skeen demanded. "He said the academy team would play us when we knew how to play. His exact words were, 'Go out and beat some street team and get a reputation, and then we'll talk to you' !" "Ah! they just want to squeal out of it." "They're afraid we'll beat them." "And they'd die of the disgrace, if we did." All the boys were speaking at once, and the result was confusion. Jack Lightfoot walked across to the little table which had been brought up there, took a seat behind it, and rapped for order. "I suppose we'll have to consider this in a business way," he said; "so the club will please come to order." He was troubled, yet he tried not to show it either by his face or his v
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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. '11r. Skeen, you may discuss the motion now, if you a little chap can do up the biggest one that ever came hoose." at him." The discussion that followed was fast and furious. He ihrew himself into a jiu-jitsu attitude. t was warm, too, and all one-sided. All the boys eemed to favor the motion, and were for forcing the cademy team to meet them, now that the matter had one that far. Jack Lightfoot rose and called for the vote, when he discussion ended. "A11 in favor of the motion, say 'Ay !'" "Ay !" every one shouted, with the exception of Lafe mpton, who had taken no part in the talk, and now munched his apple instead of voting. "The motion is carried," said Jack; "and the secre tary will write to the academy club at once, informing hem of our action." "And make the letter hot!" cried Neel Skeen. Jack Lightfoot was really glad this course had been aken. "Fellows," he said, and his face beamed with a trange light, "we'll see if we can't make them play us, 111ow that you've voted as you have; and if they do play s, we're going to beat them. I feel confident of it t0ight." CHAPTER VIII. JIU JITSU. When this matter and some others had been at tended to, and the business meeting of the new club had adjourned, athletic contests began among the club members. "Gnat" Kimball stepped out into the middle of the floor. His name was Nat Kimball, but because of his name, I and because he was small the boys often called him "Gnat," or "The Gnat." Kimball was ambitious to be a wrestler and an athlete. "Fellows," he said, "I've been reading up on this .t(Jap business, and it's great. If you know how to do it, Kimball had piercing black eyes, thin cheeks, and rather long hair which seemed to hang in wet locks. The boys claimed that he oiled it with goose grease, but Kimball asserted that he didn't. "You need something in the way of science to help you out," said Bob Brewster. The Brewster boys, brothers, were both present. Bob was the younger of the two, but the larger and stronger. He was a big, red-faced, red-haired, good natured fellow, with a quick temper, and the strength of a young giant. Bill Brewster, his older brother, older by two years, was thinner, with rather hollow cheeks, and no great muscular development. His complexion and hair were not so fiery-red as Bob's, and he was more studious and brighter in his classes at school. Both attended the high school, and were members of Jack Lightfoot's hockey team. Kimball little and dark, looked at the red-haired giant in a comical way. "Bob, if I wanted to I could use you up in a minute, with jiu jitsu." "Jiu jitsu! That sounds like a swear word, doesn't it? But, I'll bet you couldn't." He jumped out into the middle of the floor, and the other boys gathered round him and Kimball. "Stand back now, fellows," said "Gnat." "Yes," said Bob Brewster, "stand back; he don't want to kill but one fellow at a time-that's me!" He thumped himself on his thick chest and looked at little Kimball. "Now, Gnat, do me up! Jiu jitsu, you can't do it!" "Well, I can, all rtight; I've been practicing this thing for a month, on the q. t. I can break your arm, if I've a mind to." '-'-There it is--break it."

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22 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. "I'll try the full Nelson on you first,'' said Kimball, with the utmost confidence. "That's a wrestling hold, in the Japanese catch-as-catch-can." "Oh, it is, is it? Then give me the Nelson; I want to see what it's like." "I'll have to do It easy, for I might break your neck, you know." "Jiminy Crickets!" said Lafe Lampton, "hear the Gnat sing his little song!" Lafe took a bite of apple "It's this way,'' said Gnat. "Bend your head over, and stretch your arms out straight. Then I'll put my arms under your arms at the shoulders, and lock my hands together over the back of your neck. vVhen I do that I've got you; and if I used force enough I could simply break your neck, or throw you to the ground." "Let's see you do it!" "First act in the great drama-'Ajax Defying the Lightning,' said Lafe, as he chewed his apple. Kimball put his arms under the armpits of the_bigger boy and clasped his hands tightly round the back of his neck, pressing with them against the base of Bob ,. "I guess I didn't get the right hold," he cried, apol getically. "Try it again," cried Bob, with a grin. you ought to be able to do that dead easy and let you take the hold you wanted. there's a fight on in this jiu-jitsu business is it the r for the fellow that's billed to be licked to stand sti and let the other fellow catch him just where he "No, of course not," said Kimball. "I didn't know/' Bob declared, dryly "That's t way you did." "But this is just practice!" "Try it again." Kimball felt his defeat too severely to wish to t it again just then. He had picked himself up and was carefully polis ing his hands on his handkerchief. He looked at the closely to make sure that they were specklessly clea What's that for?" asked Bob. "So you can get better hold?" "No. I fell on the floor on my hands and got di on them, and I'm afraid of germs." He polished again at his hands, while the bo hooted. Brewster's red head. Kimball had become a "germ fiend." He ha
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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 23 ith germs; they're in everything-the food, the water, e air. and especially in the soil of the streets, and me of you fellows have tracked some of that soil here." "Get a shovel," said Lafe, "some of you, and scoop e germs out for Kimball." "But I ain't joking!" Kimball protested. "You oughtn't to be afraid of germs," said Bob. ou're so little you're almost one yourself. But, jiu tsu, what's the next strangle hold?" "Well, I know one trick, by which I could break ur arm, if I wanted to." Bob Brewster slipped off his coat, and then rolled his right sleeve, displaying an arm that was as bite as milk, but big and muscular. His hands and ists were red as boiled lobsters, and the whiteness the skin above them gave to the arms a comical look. "Break that!" he said. "You can't do it. Who did u practice on, while you've been breaking arms?" "My brother." The boys roared again, for Kimball's brother was ttle more than a baby. "Break this one," said Bob. "It will be easier." Kimball seized Bob's right hand with his left, drew is arm out with a jerk, and with the side of his right and struck a quick blow on the back of Brewster's But Brewster saw what he meant to do, and flexed is arm quickly, bending the elbow, so that Kimball ruck his hand on the sharp bone. He dropped Brewster's arm and caught his own ight hand in his left, while a look of pain came to his ce. "Bu'sted your hand, eh?" questioned Bob, gravely. "You didn't do that right!" Kimball protested. You must hold your arm out straight, and let me trike it on the elbow joint." "Oh, I must-I don't think! Suppose you and I ere fighting, would I stand still and let you whack me on the elbow that way, and break my arm? No, that is what I'd do to you-in the good, old American fashion." He swung his big red fist straight at Kimball's face; but stopped the blow short and let his hand drop. "There are other tricks," said Kimball, still confi dent. "I didn't work that right-you didn't let me get the combination. You've got to--" The other boys were howling, and Brewster began to put on his coat. "Well, there's one thing I can beat you at," Kim ball boasted; "that's jumping. I'll bet I can jump farther than you, and higher." "If you jump high, Kimball, you're liable to hit the floor when you come down and get germs on you." Then the jumping began, and as it was lively sport, nearly all the boys tried their skill at it. There was wrestling, too, in which more than once Kimball was fairly made to eat "germs," as he wal lowed over the flo'dr. But little "Gnat" was a plucky lad, and though put out more than once he was like that famous general who never knew when he was licked. I Then, out into the clear, cold night, the boys went, and took their several ways homeward, declaring that the gymnasium was a great thing. and feeling thankful in their hearts to Norwell Strawn. Jack Lightfoot walked home accompanied by his cousin Tom, who had remained in the gymnasium throughout the evening, with the permission of the club. As they thus walked homeward, Jack Lightfoot un burdened to his cousin the heavy weight that la/ on his heart. "That's an outrageous thing," said Tom, his sym pathies thoroughly aroused. "I don't intend that our club shall refuse to meet yours for any secret reason like that. Though if we play you, we're going to play to win ; that's honest sport, and I never go in for any

ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. "Every physical director says that eating too muclf t good for a fellow who goes in for athletics." said ck, as Lafe bit into his apple. "That's all right," Lafe answered. "I never eat too 1ch: I eat just enough-for me. You see, I'm big r than some other fellows, and it takes more to fill up." A company of girls, among them Kate Strawn and llie Conner, came down to the ice, singing: "Come, cross your blades upon the ice, The air is keen, the watchers wait; And eager as a cat for mice, Around the puck the forwards skate Line up! In goal! The game is faced! The puck's in play, the ice doth ring Beneath the skates that seem to sing: 'We have no time to-day to waste.'" "Howling mackerels! hear that?" cried Ned Skeen, ing by on a run, swinging his skates. "'We have time to waste!' If those girls know so much about why don't they play this match themselves?" "\\'e weren't singing for your benefit, Ned," cried te Strawn. ""Xo, I know you wasn't; and I'm glad of it." "You think you're the only thing!" said Kate, with a sh of indignation. "I might say something to you like that, if I wanted ,., ed Skeen "hated" girls. "\Vb at is it, smarty?" "I might shout that 'you're not the only pullet on the rch !' But that would be ungallant, and I won't." "The horrid. mean thing!" cried Nellie Conner, as d dropped down on the ice and began to put on his tes. "You've got to put my skates on for me for that," d Kate. "I won't." Jack Lightfoot came forward. "I will," he said, kindly. L "You're in more of a hurry than Ned is, for you're tain." Rut Jack stopped long enough to put on Kate's and llie's skates for them, and did the same for some the other girls, while Lafe dropped his half-eaten pie into his pocket and assisted. "Say, who's going to beat this afternoon?" Kate asked. Before the ice-yacht race Kate had hoped that Jack Lightfoot would be defeated, and made no effort to conceal the hope. "We are, of course," said Jack, laughing. She bent toward them. "Jack, I hope you will, even if Brodie is on the other side; and I know lots of other girls who do, too." "That's good," said Jack; thank you." "Confidence!" thought Jack. "That's what I need this afternoon." "And you think you can beat them? Tbey'ye got good players, and Kirtland is a good captain." Jack looked up at her with a sudden flush. "Kate," he said, "we'll beat them, if it's written down that the thing is possible." CHAPTER X. ICE HOCKEY. The hockey game was on. "Lightfoot, Lightfoot, you're the stuff! You are in it now-no bluff I Make a dive, And let her drive; You'll beat them-and this is no guff!" A lot of the high-school boys were grouped together, singing loudly, a song of their own contriving. The puck was being hammered in a lively style. One of the prettiest spectacles afforded by a good hockey match was being witnessed just at that mo ment, as the forwards of the high-school team dashed down the ice, four abreast, with the puck. When four men in a line race at lightning speed with the puck for the goal of their opponents something is doing in ice hockey. It is then that the goal keeper of the threatened'gbal sees danger signals flying in the air, and every man of the opposing team is put 11pon his mettle. The spectators crowding around the field of t yelled wildly in their enthusiasm, as the F boys came on and the skates flashed and Xlgrass, and ice.

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. This was the arrangement of the teams : HIGH SCHOOL POSITION ACADEMY Lafe Lampton Goal Brodie Strawn Bob Brewster Point Bat Arnold Bill Brewster Cover Point Ralph Sanders Ario Kilfoyle Right Center Ben Henderson Nat Kimball Right Wing Sam Tanner Ned Skeen Left Wing Tom Lightfoot Jack Lightfoot Left Center Phil Kirtland Jack Lightfoot had stationed Lampton at the goal, supported by his heaviest man, Bob Brewster, as point, to him. Jack was himself the "rover" of the forwards, and he was attempting team play, so far as was possible He had possession of the pock. .. To escape the dash of the defenders of the academy goal, he shot it to his left wing; then leaped for it, as it came back, and lifted it for goal. It was a grand rush, anp he lifted the puck just right, shooting it along about knee high
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\ ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. 27 "Howling mackerels, but that was great!" shouted ed Skeen, turning to some of his friends. Lafe turned toward Kate Strawn: "Katie, wouldn't that jar the cherries off your grand other's bonnet! Biff-bang-goal !" The puck was faced again, in the center of the field, tween the sticks of ] ack Lightfoot and Phil Kirt-d. "You think you're going to win this game, I supse ?" said Phil. That little speech, bringing momentary inattention, s to Kirtland's disadvantage. "Play!" shouted the referee. Swish-whizz Jack Lightfoot secured the puck and :vard the goal of the academy boys. sent it flying Ralph Sanders stopped it and sent it back, and it caught by the stick of Ned Skeen. Skeen was a nervous chap, but he was quick on his t. He rushed, dribbling the puck, toward the academy al, and when it was about to be taken away from he sent it flying. Cover point and point tried for it, but it passed them, d also the goal keeper. Goal! Ned Skeen had driven goal. He puffed out his chest like a pouter pigeon, when saw what he had done. "Howling mackerels, did you see that?" "Neddy, you're hot stuff!" shouted Lampton. "Sing me a few verses now, fellows!"' he shouted, ggling his fingers to the boys who were chorusing ton the ice. They sang him a "few." "Skeeny, Skeeny, don't get gay; We're certain now that you can play; Look alive, And make a drive; You can hold 'em all day!" 'Rah for our side!" yelled one of the high-school ys, who was not in the game. "They said our team uldn't play marbles. 'Rah for our side!" "Sicond blood fer the b'ys av the high school!" lied Jerry Mulligan, taking his T. D. out of his mouth d waving it joyously. "I'm bettin' me wad on 'em!" The play was on again, hot and furious. ] ack Lightfoot had placed his men to what seemed to him the best advantage. But Kirtland had been equally clever and he had some of the best players, too. Tom Lightfoot was showing himself to be a veritable wonder on and was playing for all he was worth, even though his cousin did happen to be captain of the opposing team. Kirtland had secured possession of the puck, and passed it to Tom Lightfoot. Another forward took it, to baffle the forwards of the high school; then it came back to Tom; and he sent it flying. Lafe Lampton was too slow that time; and Tom Lightfoot drove in a goal. Kate Strawn, who seemed to be distributing her favors quite evenly, clapped her hands and danced on the ice. "That feminine thermometer is bobbing up and down again," growled Ned Skeen, who fancied at moment that he "hated" girls worse than ever. "Well, her brother is on that side," said Nat Kim ball. "Give her credit for having some family feel ing." "Oh, you've got germs!" "I will have, if you come near me." The whistle blew. The first twenty minutes of the match had ended. The result was two goals for the high school and one for the academy. CHAPTER XI. TIIE SECOND HALF. There was a rest of ten minutes. The puck was faced again, in the center of the field And the spectators held their breath. At this moment, while all waited for the signal to begin play, old Mr. Snodgrass came walking out upon the ice. Kirtland, half glancing up, saw him. He trembled suddenly and his dark face paled. The signal sounded. WJ1ish! Jack Lightfoot, who had not seen Snodgrass, and

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. did not know of his arrival, took advantage of Kirt land' s temporary confusion. He had the puck, and was going with it like a hur ricane for the opposite goal. But he lost it to Ralph Sanders, who sent it skipping back. There was a scrimmage. The puck shot toward a side line. It was stopped, and went toward the academy goal; then it came back toward the high-school goal. The playing became so quick and brilliant that the crowd cheered in wild enthusiasm Yells and cries of advice resounded from all sides. Jack Lightfoot heeded none of them. He saw only the puck. He was showing that he possessed the first requisite of a captain and athletic :--coolness, when cool ness was needed. He was blind and deaf to the crowd. He secured the puck again, and ran, dribbling it, toward the academy goal. .. As he lifted his head and swung his stick, thinking to lift the puck for goal, while the opposing players were rushing toward him, he caught sight of Snod who had advanced through the crowd right up to the field of play. when he saw that gaunt, grizzled head and face, Jack's arm lost something of its strength and nerve. The puck seemed to slide off his stick. One of the academy boys secured it. And the next moment another goal was added to the one already ma. de by the academy team; and the match was tied. Jack Lightfoot pulled himself together He stole a glance at Snodgrass' grizzled face. Snodgrass was looking at him, but there was no anger in the old man's glance. Indeed it held something, Jack could not be sure what, that somewhat brought Jack's courage back. !" he whispered to himself. "Confi dence! I must win this game, no matter what hap pens afterward. I mustn't think of myself, but of the team, and of the play. Confidence!" He faced the puck with Kirtland again. '.. He saw that Kirtland was nervous. The signal came, and they struggled for possession of the puck. It was a rather awkward struggle, and reflected no credit on either, in the eyes of the onlookers. Then Jack, pulling himself together, got the puck, and shot it to the right, fearing to try for goal 1at that distance. The forwards came together, and there was a scrim mage. "Confidence!" whispered Jack. "Whatever comes afterward, the play is the thing now!" But he could not quite recover himself. The puck was taken away from his men; and a sec ond or two later, after some lively work, it was sent between the high-s
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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. Once more Jack Lightfoot secured it. His face was stern and grim now. The time was passing, and the academy boys had one goal to the good. "Now, drive it!" yelled Ned Skeen, who could not keep down the excitement that boiled for expression within him. J ;{ck Lightfoot was dribbling it. I "Drive it!" howled the spectators. Jack saw his opportunity just then, and he drove it. The opposing team failed to stop it; and it whizzed between the posts. The match was tied-three to three. Kirtland, who had made some "grand-stand" plays, for Kirtland liked at times to "play to the galleries," now saw that if his team won he would have to stop all spectacular performances and get down to real busi. 1ess. These "grand-stand" plays and efforts, together with the "rattling" he had been given when Snodgrass came )n the ice, he accounted to himself as the reasons why the score stood now three to three. It nettled him to think of that score. He had hardly believed, when he came upon the ice, that the high-school boys could get a single go.al, and here it was a tie, and the game nearing its end. "Get into gear, fellows!" he shouted "Will we let these guys from the high school do us?" He skated to the middle of the field, where the puck ,had been placed, and stood ready to face it with Jack Lightfoot. "Kirtland," said Jack, as he put down his stick, "I've said we could defeat you, and here's where we do it!" He was himself as cool again as the conditions per mitted. He had not forgotten the thousand dollars nor Snod grass, but he remembered even more strongly the boy in the red coat whom he had seen hurrying off the ice with the package containing the money. "Talk's cheap!" grunted Kirtland. "Is it? It's not worth a thousand dollars, Kirt; but right here is where we're going to beat you!" "Play!" came the word. They moved for the puck. Jack Lightfoot took it and sent it along. He tried to shoot a goal, but the puck was blocked. It came back; and again near the center of the field the combat for its possession raged fiercely. Out of the scrimmage he took it again. Tom Lightfoot caughi it cleverly from him with his stick, as Jack tried to pass it to his right. It came back, after Tom had shot it along the ice and it had been blocked by Bob Brewster. A scrimmage followed-a fierce fight for possession; then Jack had it again., He lost it; and Kirtland's stick sent it for goal. It went between the goal posts! "No goal !" shouted Jack Lightfoot. "He raised his stick above his shoulders !" The point was well taken, and the decision was given accordingly. The fight was on again Kirtland might have been ruled off the ice, if Jack had persisted and demanded that action. But Jack Lightfoot was a generous fighter. "You were excited, Kirt, and that's all right; only it wasn't a fair goal, and I had to protest it." Kirtland was angry-so angry that he was boiling with rage. Though he secured the puck, his anger caused him to lose it; and Jack Lightfoot, getting it, sent it flying between the goal posts. The time was up, and the whistle blew. The match between the academy and the high school hockey teams had been played-a fast, a furious, and at times a brilliant game; and the high-school boys had won. Score-four to three. The spectators were cheering wildly. "Not m1:1ch to brag of," said Lafe Lampton, calmly taking a bite from an apple which he had found some where in his clothing; "but, fellows, was enough. We won!" CHAPTER XII. WHAT CAME AFTERWARD. was so furious over the loss of the game that he skated out beyond the circle of the cheering

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30 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. crowd and seemed on the point of turning in from there toward the shore. "Look out, there!" some one yelled at him. In his anger he had forgotten the thin ice, until he felt it cracking under him and heard that shout. He turned quickly to ska te back out of danger. Then the black ice yawned under him, and he fel t himse lf plunged into the chilling water. He caught hi s breath gas ped and went under. Jack who had been skating toward him, anxious to say a word to lessen the sting of defeat whic h he saw Kirtland felt so severely, was horrified hen he saw that. He did not stop, however; but, disregarding his own peril, skated toward the break in the ice. Sume of the other boys came skating after him, plunging along in mad excitement. Jack reached the ice ahead of them, and threw him self down on the broken edge. Kirtland's head bobbed into view, and then his shoulders. The ice was cracked and breaking between jack and the h alf-submerged captain of the academy team. Kirtland was chilled and had lost his head and ,vas simply splashing the water and pawing the air. Jack saw that he would go under again in another moment or two, when it would be a question if he came up again, so cold was the icy water and so benumbing He crawled out over the ice on his knees, moving quickly. l "Look alive there fellows!" Jack shouted, "and form a line a living rope He reached his hockey stick out to the unfortunate captain of the ri v al team. "Courage there!" he s houted; "hold fast and we'll have you out in a jiffy!" Phil Kirtland seized the hockey stick as a drown ing man will grasp at a straw. The boys had flung themselves down, and a living rope reached from Jack toward safe ty. Under him the ice was cracking and breaking up into cakes. :But he htlll&' to the hockey stick. The behind him pulled with all their might; a nd their strength beinPadded to constandv bv others who ioined them, both J a ck Ligh t foot and Phil Kirtland were pulled out of the dangerous hole, Kirtland being almost lifted bodily by Jack, who, dropping his stick when he could caught him in his strong, young arms, and so assisted him. Then there was cheering, such as had not been heard before, when the rescued and the rescuers were safe on the firm ice. CHAPTER XIII. FACING SNODGRASS. Kirtland was taken home Snodgrass had disappeared before the accident. Jack s friends still hung about, praising him, and talking of the accident and rescue, and of the game. Jack was thinking of Snodgrass, whom he must now face, and he was wondering what Kirtland would do about the thousand-dollar package. Kate Strawn came skating toward him. "J k" h d 1 1 b ac s e cne gay y, you re t 1e ravest hoy 111 Cranford, and with the exception of my brother Brodie, you're the best hockey player, too." "And that ain't no joke!" said Lafe Lampton, as Kate skated on in the midst of a crowd of girls. "Yes, she said the truth that time, or a part of it,: a dm itted Ned Skeen, "and it isn't often that you find a girl who is willing to speak even a part of the truth. If she'd only said you're the best player without any exception she'd have hit it." "Jiminy Crickets, Skeeny, but you do like girls!" said Lampton "I hate 'em!" said Ned "They-they make me think of-bf birds!" "What kind of birds? asked Lafe, biting his apple. "Geese-silly, cackling geese!" I'm guessin' th'at your mother was a girl once!" Ned Skeen seemed to have forgotten that. Departing from his friends, Jack Light foot went h o me, changed his clothing. and then made his way to ward the residence of Mr. Snodcrass The victory he and his team had a.chiev ed gave him small joy, as he walked on, thinking of what he should

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ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. say when he stood face to face with the old gentleman, .... whom he pictured as being in an angry mood. "Well, I just can't pay the thousand dollars," was his conclusion. "That's simply impossible, for I haven't got it, and couldn't get it. I wonder if he'll believe what I say, and if he'll want to have Phil Kirtland taken in charge? He may want to ha vie me arrested." His courage almost failed as he reached the gate in front of Snodgrass' house. Then he opened the gate and walked up to the door. A maid answered his ring, and she conductef:l him to the ljbrary, saying that Mr. Snodgrass was waiting for him there. This sounded ominous, and Jack fairly trembled as he followed her through the hall. The banker was seated at his desk, and had been reading a book. The walls of the room were covered with books in cases, and on the table there was a litter of papers. Snodgrass wheeled round in his chair, and pushed is glasse up on his forehead, so that he seemed to be looking at Jack with two pairs of eyes. The maid retreated, and Jack stood hesitating, a lump in his throat. "I've been expecting you, Jack; so I left word with the servant that I'd be waiting for you. That was a brave thing you did-that rescue." He motioned to a chair. Jack sat down, holding his hat, and feeling troubled nd confused. "I didn't think I ought to; you were very particular, sir, to tell me I must take it to Mrs. Snodgrass." "Very true, Jack !" Snodgrass' tone seemed to change. "So I wouldn't give it to him; but intended to bring it myself." "Very good, Jack; you did just right in that, though I'm sorry for what happened afterward. Now, I'll con ess to you, that I sent the errand boy to try you, to see if you would do what I told you not to do." Jack felt surprised. "That's the principal reason why I gave you that package of money-to test your reliability. If you had given the package to the boy, after I instructed you not to, I should have been very much disappointed in you. But you were true to your trust; and what happened afterward, as I understand it, you were not to blame for. Anyone is likely to be knocked down and robbed." A great load was rolled from Jack Lightfoot's hear. l He saw that Snodgrass was not disposed to blame him severely for the loss of the money, and did not intend to demand its repayment or restoration. "Now," said Snodgrass, rising, "we'll go up to Kirt land's and see what Phil Kirtland has to say about this. I've heard your story from my wife, and it's a queer one. I never looked on Phil as a thief, and we'll see how he explains this." "He denied that he took it; yet I saw him!" "Yes, yes, I understand that you think you saw "I-I told Mrs. Snodgrass about that-about the him." loss of the money!" Jack stammered, not knowing how to begin. "Yes, and she told me; that's why I've been expect ing you-I want to hear what you have to say about it." "I took the package, and meant to bring it straight to Mrs. Snodgrass, and "My errand boy asked you for the package, I be lieve?" "Yes, sir." Jack faltered. Snodgrass removed his spectacles and slowly po1i s hed them with his handkerchief while he scanned Jack's face. "And you didn't give it to him?" He got his hat, bis coat and his cane; and he left the house with Jack Lightfoot and took his way to Kirtla11d's. Phil Kirtland was in, of course; and sent word down that he was able to see them, in his room. Phil was sitting in an easy-chair, and his dark face flushed when he saw Snodgrass before him. "Lightfoot," he said, "I thank you for pulling me out of that hole." He turned to Snodgrass. "There's your money," he cried: and he held out a package It w;.as not the package which had been taken from Jack Lightfoot, but it contained a thousand dollars, as

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. 32 ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY. Kirtland showed by pulling' out the bills and displaying .... them. Snodgrass sat down, when invited to, and Jack did the same. Snodgrass was painfully surprised. "Then you did take the money?"' he cried. "And I was ready to declare that you were incapable of doing anything of the kind." Kirtland's dark face cleared. "Thank you for that," he said; quietly. "I am quite incapable of doing anything of the kind, as Jack Light foot ought to have known from the first." "But I saw--" Kirtland waved his hand airily. "Now, I have an explanation to make," he said, speaking to Snodgrass, "which I will make only on one condition." 1 Snodgrass was feeling in a good humor; he had recovered his money, and Kirtland had declared that he had not taken it. "I'm ready to hear you, and I thank you for the money. I find it's all here; not the same bills, I think, but the thousand dollars is here." "My one condition is, that both you and Jack Light foot shall say nothing at all of what has happened with regard to that money." "Not even to my wife?" "Oh, yes, to your wife, if you want to; and Jack may tell his mother, and any friends he has taken into his confidence. But the thing must stop there. Do you promise that?" Snodgrass fumbled with the package. "Go on!" he said, after a moment of hesitation. "Then, I will confess to you, that a distant relative of mine took that money-knocked Jack down on the ice, just as Jack claimed, and got the package away from him." Jack was ready to stare open-mouthed. "That's the truth, and the whole truth," said Kirtland. "This relative, whom I will not name unless it's necessary, came here to visit me the day before the masquerade on the ice." Jack gave a start. He remembered that he had seen a young stranger on the street that day with Phil Kirtland. "We thought it would be a lark, if we both went on the ice that night disguised and dressed just alike. and that's what we did He took advantage of the disguise, and rqbbed Lightfoot. Of course Lightfoot came boiling right up here. I was stumped at first, and I was red hot; then I thought of this relative who had worn a red coat just like mine. That cooled me down a little. I resolved to find out. "I did find out. But I had to follow him to the town where he lives, which is not so very far from here; for he skipped out, and left here that night. I cornered and made him confess. He had spent some of the money. I took my own money and put back the amount he had squandered. So, you have the story; and you have again the thousand dollars.'" A long talk followed; and Jack, seeing how he ha wronged Phil Kirtland in word and thought, begged his pardon most manfully. "Jack," said Kirtland, as Lightfoot and Mr. Snod grass turned to depart, "we'll let that go-bygones should be bygones, eh? But there's one thing tha is a very live question. Your fellows defeated mine this afternoon. I was rattled, when Mr. Snodgrass came on the ice, and that's a fact; and that's the reason you and your crowd defeated us. But you can't do it again, not in any old game or sport you can scare up." Jack turned to him, with a merry laugh in his gray blue eyes. He was feeling so light-hearted that he wanted to shout and laugh and sing, and even cry for joy. "Kirtland," he said, speaking gayly, "I guess we can scare up something; arid we'll try you, whenever and however you like." THE END. Next week's issue of ALL-SPORTS LIBRARY, No. 3, will be "Jack Lightfoot's Great Play; or, Surprising the Academy Boys." This is another lively story full of fun, merriment, excitement and manJy sport. Jack and his young friends gain much benefit from their gymnasium, and, encouraged by their victory over the academy boys, continue to pursue their athletic even Kimball showing new stunts with his wonderft. and beloved jiu jitsu. You can't afford to miss a stor so replete with excitement.

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' I Come, Boys, aet the ALL=SPORTS LIBRARY T e a c h the Amerz'Can b oy how to b ecome an athle t e and l a y the f oundation of a constitution g r eat e r than that of the Unite d State s -Wzs e sayin g s from T z p T o p Y ou like fun, adve n ture, and mystery d on't you? Well, yo u c : m find them all in the p ages of the stories in this library A s the name implie s the ALL SPORT S LIBRAR Y is devoted to the sports all young people deli g h t i n. It has bright handsome colore d covers, and each story is a t l e ast 30,000 wor ds i n length You are l ooki n g for a bi g five cents worth o f goo d r eading and yo u can get it here. Ask your newsdeale r for a n y o f the titl es lis ted be l ow H e has them in sto c k. PRICE, PIVE CENTS LATEST TITLES l. JACK LIGHTFOOTtS CHALLENGE; or, The Winning of the W a ger 2. JACK LIGHTFOOTtS HOCKEY TEAM; or, The Rival Athletes of Old Cranford 3. JACK LIGHTFOOTtS GREAT PLAY; or, Surprisi n g the Academy Boys 4. JACK LIGHTFOOTtS ATHLETIC TOURNAMENT; or, the Rec:ord Quarter-Mile Dash 5. JACK LIGHTFOOT IN THE WOODS; : or, Taking the Hermi t Trout of Simms' Hole 6. JACK LIGHTFOOTtS TRUMP CURVE; 0r, The Wizar d P i tcher of the Four-Town League This library may be purchased fr o m any newsdea"ler at five cents per cop y, o r any n umber will be sent pos tpaid upon receipt o f six cents by THE WINNER LIBRARY COMPANY, 2 Duane St., NEW YORK ..